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1: Setting the radio | July 2011 was Alexandra’s year for the Dad – Daughter trip. Alexandra was really interested taking a train trip and dad honored her desire. They would depart from Ohio to fly to Chicago to board the Empire Builder to Seattle, WA, where a family vacation would then begin. Throughout late spring the mid west had heavy rain and therefore a lot of flooding. As a result of record breaking floods in Minot, ND the Empire Builder was suspended in early June. We did not know if their trip would even happen. By a stroke of luck the Empire Builder service was restored the Monday before they were supposed to leave. Before the train portion even began, while getting off the plane in Chicago, Alexandra was invited into the cockpit by the pilot and got to set the flight plan for the next flight. This is something Al has never heard of being done. | Flight debrief and setting the Instrument landing system

2: Getting ready to board the train in Chicago's Union Station.

3: A quick nap to refresh | Dad decided for comfort to travel in a private bedroom verses a small bunk room, the bedroom offered a large sofa with two individually reclining sections, and a reclining easy chair. At night, the sofa converts to a comfortable bed. All Superliner Bedrooms feature private, self-enclosed restrooms with toilet, sink and shower. | Alexandra discovered that she loved biscuits and gravy. Most of the time on the train was spent sitting in the lounge car.

5: While on the train, you met another Dad/Daughter Duo, Sarah and Jeff from off all places Elgin, IL. You and dad enjoyed their company over meals and hanging out from time to time.

6: The unfortunate sad devastation from all the flooding. | Water up to the tracks rails | A tipped car from the flooding | The sad devastation from all the flooding.

7: Amazing scenery through the cascades

8: By the end of the train trip, you traveled 2205 miles in 46 hours. Went through 6 states and several major cities such as Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Minot, ND; Glacier Park, MT; Sandpoint, ID.

9: We visited the first Red Robin site that closed in March 2010 due to high renovation costs. | We began our family vacation in Seattle, the "Emerald City", due to the lush evergreen forest as an extension of your dad/daughter trip. | Part of a cowboy-themed gas station, the hat is 19 ft tall and 44 ft wide was the station office; the boots were bathrooms. | Seattle Skyline | NOW THE........

10: The Fremont Troll is a piece of public art under the north end of the Aurora Bridge. It is clutching an actual Volkswagen Beetle, as if it had just swiped it from the roadway above. The Troll was sculpted by four local artists.

11: The famous "gum" wall Alexandra learned about from her friend on the train ride to Seattle. Of course, Alexandra had to add to the vast exhibit. | From 1971 to 1975, the first Starbucks was at 2000 Western Avenue; it then was relocated to 1912 Pike Place, where it remains to this day. | Outside Pike Place. During the summer it is extended with vendors offering everything from food to keepsakes.

12: Pike Place Market, home of the famous fish market, where the fish really do fly.

13: When we were in Seattle Dad wanted to tour the Boeing mfg plant in Everett where the 747, 777 and Dreamliners are made. They did not allow cameras in the plant but we saw 2 brand new 747’s take off for test flights, one on each runway. In the photo, the manufacturing plant in on the right and the paint facility is on the right. This was the only day of our vacation we had rain. | Planes must go over this bridge to get to the runways, which they do during the midnight shift for the least traffic since the wings extend 30 feet over the highway.

14: Bottom left plane is dad's favorite and at least mom can say she was on the Concorde.

15: Vancouver skyline from Stanley Park | While on our 3 hour drive to Vancouver, we found this western red cedar stump, the tree was 20 ft wide & 200 ft tall believed to be over 1000 years old. | On Granville Island

16: Totem Poles in Stanley Park. Carved poles stood in front of houses or marked grave sites of the natives & the pole figures are called crests.

17: Olympic Moments The Village the athlete lived in, BC stadium host to opening & closing ceremonies and metal presentations and the cauldron.

18: Common Vancouver transportation. | Gastown - a national historic site, most famous landmark is the steam-powered clock Built to cover a steam grate. | Chinatown features parallel rows of buildings and the Millenium Gate, symbolic of both past and future to commemorate this "Journey in Time." | The 45-foot neon sign is bilingual sign "Chinatown Plaza" in English & "Chinatown welcomes you" in Chinese | Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park is a public park built in a Chinese style.

19: Vancouver from Burnaby Mountain at 1214 ft.

20: Vancouver from Burnaby Mountain at 1214 ft. | Burnaby Mountain, home to “Playground of the Gods”, a collection of Ainu totem pole-like carvings which commemorate the goodwill between Burnaby and its sister city, Kushiro, Japan.

21: Capilano Suspension Bridge, originally built in 1889, a simple suspension bridge at 446 ft long and 230 ft high. | The Cliff Walk just opened in June & took 2 years to build, offers a rock climbers view of the canyon from cliffside walkways.

23: Alexandra did not like the bridge, cliff walk or tree top adventure.

24: Brandywine Fall, a spectacular 230 foot waterfall | The Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler offers many scenic picturesque spots. | Porteau Cove Marine Park, 24 miles north of Vancouver. | Cypress Mountain lookout. On clear days like this day, all of Vancouver can be seen. The mtn hosted the Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding events of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

25: Shannon Falls as seen from the highway, one of the tallest in British Columbia at approx. 800 feet. | Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver

28: The Peak 2 Peak Gondolas | Whistler Village is amazing and quaint. We really enjoyed relaxing and eating alfresco. The sliding center was 5 minutes from our hotel. Where you enter is the location of the luge accident. Olympic Park, host to a 1/3 of all Winter Games events, about 25 minutes south of whistler. Due to time, we could not visit. | View from our balcony

30: View from Whistler Mtn at 7,156 ft | Alexandra and I took the Peak to Peak Ride, while Al relaxed since he had been to the summit on a previous trip. | Mid way, we are going all the way up here. | The inukshuk, a stone landmark, was the 2010 Olympic symbol | We saw 4 black bears.

31: View from Whistler Mtn

32: View of Blackcomb Mountain from Whistler Mtn. | After 4 days in BC, the drive back was just as scenic and only took an hour to get through border control.